Tom
It sort of depends on the terrain, and whether people are just playing on them or whether there may be some more serious use. As far as steering them, you just slide and lean into them shifting your weight and flexing your ankles and knees, like skis, as long as the snow conditions are right.

Backcountry skis and telemark skis have steel edges that will cut into ice. Backcountry skis have climbing scales under them whereas tele skis do not. BC skis do not necesarily require climbing skins but tele skis do. Snowshoes lack "EDGE" (although they may have "traction") and consequemtly will let you slip right off steep slick stuff. A SKIER CAN GO PLACES THAT A SNOW SHOER CAN ONLY DREAM ABOUT.

WARNING THREAD DRIFT:
The only thing safer than skis on steep ice is crampons with an ice axe. Indeed many people mountaineer on skis. The idean being that if you get into trouble on skis, you had better have crampons and an ice axe, and maybe an ice screw to anchor to while you switch from skis to crampons.
Jim